1. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 was enacted to provide a robust legal framework for the protection of children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography, while safeguarding the interest of the child at every stage of the judicial process.

2. Assault on boys punishable by death

The government on Friday approved amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, to bring punishments for sexual assaults on boys on a par with those against girls. These include the provision of death penalty when the child is under 12 years and when a penetrative sexual assault is committed by a relative.

The amendments approved by the Union Cabinet will now have to be passed by Parliament. An official of the Ministry of Women and Child Development said the government intended to introduce the amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

The move will ensure that the Bill, once introduced even if not passed, will not lapse when the term of the present government comes to an end and the Lok Sabha is dissolved.

3. Manned space mission to take off

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved the ambitious Gaganyaan programme, which will send three Indian astronauts to space for up to seven days by 2022 at a cost of ₹10,000 crore.

The project was first announced by Prime Minster Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech this year. As part of the programme, two unmanned flights and one manned flight will be undertaken.

The first human space flight demonstration is targeted to be completed within 40 months of the sanction date. Prior to this, two unmanned flights in full complement will be carried out to gain confidence, the government said.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed the launch vehicle GSLV MK-III, which has the necessary payload capability to launch a three-member crew module in low earth orbit.

The ISRO has also tested the crew escape system, an essential technology for human space flight. Elements of the life support system and the space suit have also been realised and tested, the government said.

4. Cabinet nod for easing CRZ norms

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved relaxation in various norms including the clearance of projects or activities falling in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), allowing for greater use of coastal areas for tourism and industrial growth. “This will enable redevelopment of these areas to meet the emerging needs,” the government said.

5. Analog cable TV gets an extension

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday informed the Madras High Court that it has extended till January 31 the deadline for migration of broadcasting and cable services, including the complete shift from analog cable connections to digital set top box connections, to a new regulatory framework.

The submission was made before Justice S. Vaidyanathan during the hearing of a writ petition filed by Chennai Metro Cable TV Operators Association, a body of local operators. The association had challenged two press releases issued by TRAI and feared that the new regulations might come into effect from December 29.

However, senior counsel P. Wilson, representing TRAI, produced a notification issued on Thursday and pointed out that the deadline had been extended till January 31. After perusing the document, the judge ordered notices to TRAI as well as the Centre and adjourned the case to January 3 for filing of counter affidavits.

According to TRAI’s latest notification, the new framework comprised of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Eighth) (Addressable Systems) Tariff Order of 2017, the interconnection regulations of 2017 and the quality of service regulations of 2017. All three of them were supposed to have come into effect last year.

However, they got delayed due to pending litigations. TRAI held a series of meetings and consultations with all stakeholders. From the discussions, it emerged that by and large, most of them were ready for implementation of the new framework.

The move comes against the backdrop of a series of representations received by the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry from various coastal States and Union Territories, besides other stakeholders for a comprehensive review of the provisions of the CRZ Notification, 2011.

According to the new notification, only such projects which are located in CRZ-I (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) and IV (area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 nautical miles seaward) will require the necessary clearance from the Uniuon Ministry.

The powers for clearances with respect to CRZ-II (the areas that have been developed up to or close to the shoreline) and III (areas that are relatively undisturbed) have been delegated to the State level. The construction norms on Floor Space Index (FSI) or the Floor Area Ratio (FAR), which was frozen at 1991 Development Control Regulation (DCR) levels, have been relaxed and will now be based on laws which are in vogue.

The new notification also relaxed the No Development Zone (NDZ) criteria.

Densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2,161 per square kilometre, falling under CRZ-III A, now have NDZ of 50 metres from the High Tide Line (HTL) as against 200 metres stipulated in the CRZ Notification, 2011.

For islands close to the mainland coast and for all backwater islands in the mainland, the new norms stipulate an NDZ of 20 metres.

7. ₹4,500-cr. assistance for Bhutan

India will support Bhutan’s development needs by providing ₹4,500 crore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday, while visiting Prime Minister of the Himalayan country Lotay Tshering indicated his government’s commitment to maintain warm ties with India.

“I have assured the Prime Minister that India will continue to be a reliable friend and a partner of Bhutan’s developmental needs. India will provide ₹4,500 crore for Bhutan’s 12th five-year plan. This contribution will be processed according to Bhutan’s preferences and necessities,” announced Prime Minister Modi after holding official-level talks with the Bhutanese leader and senior officials.

Bhutan remains one of the key recipients of development assistance from India. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India provided ₹4,500 crore for the 11th five year plan that lasted between 2013 and 2018. The Hindu reported on Friday that India is committed to supporting Bhutan’s next five-year plan to begin shortly. Mr. Modi said that to share the benefit of the South Asian Satellite, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is moving ahead with plans to set up a ground station in Bhutan that will help in telemedicine, disaster relief and climate trends.

8. Centre gives nod to draft Bill on Indian medicine

The Union Cabinet has approved the draft National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2018. The NCIM will promote “availability of affordable healthcare services in all parts of the country”, the Centre said in a statement on Friday.

The draft Bill will enable the constitution of a National Commission with four autonomous boards for the purpose of conducting overall education in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowarigpa. “There are two common boards, namely the board of assessment and rating to assess and grant permission to educational institutions of Indian systems of medicine, and board of ethics and registration of practitioners of Indian systems of medicine to maintain a National Register and ethical issues relating to practice under the National Commission for Indian Medicine,” said the statement.

To assess the standard of teachers before appointment and promotions, the Bill proposes an entrance and an exit exam that all graduates need to clear to get practising licenses.

9. Bill for panel on homoeo gets nod

The Union Cabinet has approved the draft National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2018, the government said on Friday.

“The draft Bill provides for the constitution of a National Commission with three autonomous boards entrusted with the conduct of education of Homoeopathy by Homoeopathy Education Board,” read the statement issued by the Centre. The Centre said the Bill aims to bring “reforms in the medical education of Homoeopathy”.

10. India to submit biennial update to UNFCCC

The Union Cabinet has approved the submission of India’s second Biennial Update Report (BUR) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In a statement on Friday, the Centre said the BUR prepared on a range of studies at the national level contains five major components.

11. CPEC has no military feature, it is an economic project: Pak.

Pakistan has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a bilateral economic project and has no military dimensions.

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said this at the weekly media briefing here on Thursday when asked about a U.S. media report that alleged that China had hatched a secret plan to build fighter jets and other military hardware in Pakistan as part of the $60 billion project. The Islamabad datelined report in the New York Times said Pakistani Air Force and Chinese officials were putting the final touches to the secret proposal. China last week dismissed as untrue the report.

Responding to the report, Mr. Faisal said the CPEC was an economic project between Pakistan and China, the Dawn reported. “The CPEC has helped Pakistan improve its economy, particularly energy and infrastructure sectors have improved under it. The CPEC is a bilateral economic project, which is not against any country,” he was quoted as saying by the daily.

12. Cabinet okays IPOs of six CPSEs

The Union Cabinet approved the listing of seven central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) on the stock exchanges through initial public offering (IPO) or follow-on public offer (FPO).

13. Tiny tracker to help fight rhino poaching

French tech company Sigfox has developed a bite-size tracker that can be inserted into the horns of rhinos to help conservationists monitor and protect the endangered species.

Cameras, infrared and motion sensors, electronic bracelets and drones have been used over the years to protect endangered species, but have at times been limited by vast distances and limited resources in the countries concerned.

Sigfox, known for building networks that link objects to the Internet, has developed sensors able to give the exact location of rhinos using the firm’s network over a longer period of time.

“We now help rangers and conservation experts to observe from a distance, taking less risk, and especially to anticipate potential dangers that the animal could (face),” said Marion Moreau, head of the non-profit Sigfox Foundation.

The sensors can alert park rangers when rhinos approach an area identified as particularly dangerous due to previous instances of poaching.

14. Peace advocate and writer Amos Oz is dead

Renowned Israeli writer Amos Oz, a passionate peace advocate whose stirring memoir A Tale of Love and Darkness became a worldwide bestseller, died on Friday aged 79, his daughter said.

Fania Oz-Salzberger said on Twitter that her father had died of cancer and offered thanks to “those who loved him”.

Tributes began to pour in for Oz, including from Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon, who called his death “a loss for us all and for the world”.

While Oz’s writing is widely acclaimed, he is perhaps equally known as one of the earliest and most forceful critics of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands captured in the Six-Day War of 1967. In recent years, Oz spoke out against the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shunning official Israeli functions abroad in protest at what he called the “growing extremism” of his country’s government.

Many viewed him as a conscience of the nation, although he was repeatedly the target of criticism from Israel’s far right.

15. India will see two eclipses in 2019

Astronomy enthusiasts and skygazers will be able to experience five eclipses in 2019, two of which will be visible in India.

The year will start with a partial solar eclipse on January 6, though it will not be visible in India, said Dr. Rajendraprakash Gupt, superintendent of the Ujjain-based Jiwaji Observatory.

A total lunar eclipse on January 21 will not be visible in the country as it is to happen during the day.

A total solar eclipse on July 2-3 will also not be seen as it will occur at night in the country.

A partial lunar eclipse set to take place on July 16-17 will be visible in India and so will an annular (ring-shaped) solar eclipse on December 26, Mr. Gupt added.

16. Assam documentary wins film festival award

Finding Beauty in Garbage, a documentary based on issues surrounding mountains of garbage in Dibrugarh town of Assam has won the best short documentary award at Asia South East Short Film Festival recently held at Phnom Penh in Cambodia. The film has also been selected for a screening at the Short and Sweet Film Festival to be held in Utah, U.S.

17. Aretha Franklin to get a tribute show

The Queen of Soul will get a tribute from Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle, Kelly Clarkson and others on January 13. The Recording Academy and music mogul Clive Davis will put on the special concert “Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul” in Los Angeles.

18. Abbreviations:

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

19. Things to Remember:

Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

20. Improve your Vocabulary:

pasture

Meaning – Land covered with grass and other low plants suitable for grazing animals, especially cattle or sheep

Current Affairs is an important GK topic for UPSC, NDA, CDS, AFCAT, Air force X & Y Groups, SSC, and other competitive exams. Every year in UPSC, SSC and Bank there are few questions from Current Affairs